Athol Daily News – “Arrive Alive” shows Athol High School students the dangers of impaired driving

ATHOL – Near the end of the school year, Athol High School students got a realistic look at the dangers of impaired driving.

“Arrive Alive” featured a simulated two-car collision Monday, with five Athol High School students portraying the drivers and passengers. Two totaled vehicles were brought onto school grounds and students were covered in fake blood. Athol firefighters and police officers, as well as state police, were present as a tarp covering the two vehicles was removed to reveal the grisly scene.

The students were in the vehicles when the mock accident began. Two got out and wandered around in a daze, asking what had happened. One of the students kept saying “I’m sorry.”

Police and firefighters arrived and went through standard accident response procedures. The three students who were able to walk were taken away for medical evaluation while firefighters began extricating two others who were trapped inside and too injured to move. This also included using the Jaws of Life to cut away parts of the vehicle.

A mannequin was used to portray a sixth-grader who was thrown from the vehicle, still holding a beer can. This “student” was pronounced dead at the scene. During the demonstration, a woman ran to the scene screaming that it was her son in one of the vehicles before she was stopped by police.

One of the seriously injured students was taken to an ambulance and the other was taken away by a crew from a LifeFlight helicopter that landed on the school’s softball field. One of the students was given a field sobriety test and was found to be impaired. He was arrested and charged with acting under the influence of alcohol.

As the “Arrive Alive” demonstration came to an end, a hearse from the Mack Family Funeral Home picked up the body of the “deceased” student.

Following this presentation, students heard from police and fire officials about what they face when responding to these calls. Athol Police Officer Brandon Newell said one of the Arrive Alive drivers, who was “arrested” and standing in front of her classmates, who were still wearing handcuffs, told officers that she had been drinking at a party. Because of her impaired driving, her boyfriend “died” in the accident.

“Drunk drivers are everywhere,” Newell said. “Do your part to make sure no one you know does this.”

Athol High School Principal David King told students that the decisions they make don’t just affect them. He said when they get a driver’s license, they must be aware of the responsibility that comes with it.

“That’s why at the end of the day on May 6 you’re out of class for 90 minutes,” he said. “So that you fully understand the decisions you make every time you get behind the wheel and the impact those decisions can have on other people in this school, in our community, in Massachusetts and around the world.”

Athol Fire Chief Joseph Guarnera said what the students saw “happens far too often.” He reminded students that the body thrown through the windshield of a car still contained beer, a representation of what led to that scene.

“It’s not fake, it happens all the time,” he said.

Guarnera added that one of his son’s friends had an accident while under the influence of alcohol that resulted in his death.

“Don’t let this message fall on deaf ears,” he said.

Max Bowen can be reached at [email protected] or 413-930-4074.